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Last Child in the Woods |
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Bringing Children Back Into Nature
Drive around almost any neighborhood – daytime or early evening in the U.S., and you start to wonder, where are the children? They are rarely seen outdoors - playing. Unless they are supervised, they are usually not seen places many adults spent childhood – in creeks, meadows, orchards, parks and other natural settings. Parents cite a number of reasons why their children spend less time in nature – television and computers, dangerous traffic, more homework and time pressures, more time spent in organized sports, fear of strangers, etc. These barriers are real, but the greater problem stems from a fundamental change in our culture’s relationship with nature.
In this new groundbreaking book (c 2005), author Richard Louv claims society is teaching young children to avoid nature. He says new research shows that the lesson is delivered in schools, families, and even in organizations devoted to the outdoors and the message is also codified into the legal and regulatory structures of many of our neighborhoods – in effect criminalizing natural play (e.g. not allowing tree houses). Yet research indicates that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development, for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.
Last Child in the Woods details that nature can be a powerful therapy for such maladies as depression and attention – deficit disorder – the author suggests calling it nature-deficit-disorder (NDD). Louv shows that environment – based education dramatically improves standardized test scores and grade point averages, and develops skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making. He provides many solutions (e.g. environment-based education, designing communities to increase access to nature, etc.). This is a very special book, especially for community leaders, teachers, family councelors, landscape architects, city planners, faith-based organizations and parents. Hardcover, 323 pp.
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$25.00 |
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